en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engagement
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Historically, betrothal in Roman Catholicism is a formal contract considered as binding as marriage, and a divorce is necessary to terminate a betrothal. Betrothed couples are regarded legally as husband and wife – even before their wedding and physical union.
Catholic sources distinguish betrothal from marriage itself. Betrothal is a promise of future marriage and can be dissolved; it does not make the couple husband and wife.
Full reasoning
This overstates the legal status of betrothal in Catholicism.
The current Code of Canon Law defines an engagement simply as "a promise of marriage" and explicitly says it does not create a right to force the marriage to be celebrated. In the same title, canon law says that marriage itself is made by the parties' consent. That directly contradicts the claim that betrothal is "as binding as marriage" or that the couple are already legally husband and wife.
Historical Catholic reference works make the same distinction. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines betrothal as a promise of future marriage and says it differs from the marriage contract itself. It also lists several ways a betrothal may be dissolved, including mutual consent. That contradicts the article's statement that a divorce is needed to end a betrothal.
So the article confuses betrothal/engagement with marriage. In Catholic law and theology, betrothal can carry obligations, but it is not the same legal or sacramental status as marriage, and it does not itself make the parties husband and wife.
2 sources
- Code of Canon Law - Book IV - Function of the Church Liber (Cann. 998-1165)
Can. 1057: "The consent of the parties ... makes marriage." Can. 1062: "A promise of marriage ... is called an engagement" and "A promise to marry does not give rise to an action to seek the celebration of marriage."
- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Betrothal
"The betrothal is a promise of future marriage, and hence it differs from the marriage contract itself." Also: "A betrothal may be dissolved: (1) By the mutual and free consent of the contracting parties."